U.S. Agricultural Trade Update

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Subject: U.S. Agricultural Trade Update
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 14:00:42 -0400 (EDT)

U.S. Agricultural Trade Update

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/erssor/trade/fau-bb/

U.S. AGRICULTURAL TRADE UPDATE is published monthly by the Economic
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. and
cover the monthly farm trade balance, U.S. farm imports and exports by
quantity and value, and leading exports and exporters. 

For email subscription see:

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/REPORTS_EMAIL_DISTRIBUTION
(Link inactive 17 August 2004)

Sample Report:

Summary---January 1997 U.S. agricultural exports were $5 billion, 10
percent less than January 1996. Cumulative exports for fiscal 1997 were
$21.4 billion, nearly the same as a year ago. Imports in January were $3
billion, 11 percent higher than January 1996. Year-to-date imports were
$11.6 billion, a 14-percent increase over 1996. The cumulative
agricultural trade surplus was $9.8 billion, down 12 percent from 1996.

Exports-- Bulk exports were $2.3 billion in January, down 24 percent from
1996.  Increased competition with U.S. grains was the primary reason.
January wheat exports were down sharply from 2.6 million tons in 1996 to
1.7 million tons in 1997. The export unit value for wheat was $176 per
ton, down 15 percent from the previous year. Year-to-date wheat shipments
were down 3.7 million tons, a 33-percent drop. The value of wheat exports
was down 39 percent. Shipments to Japan, the leading importer of wheat in
January, were 395,000 tons.

Corn exports in January were 4.6 million tons, down 15 percent from 1996,
while the export unit value fell from $148 per ton to $128. The cumulative
value of corn shipments in fiscal 1997 was down 6 percent at $2.7 billion.
Japan imported 1.5 million tons in January, a 15-percent increase over
December 1996. 

Soybean exports were 2.9 million tons in January, unchanged from a year
ago.  Year-to-date exports were 13 million tons, 33 percent above 1996.
The cumulative value of soybean exports was $3.6 billion, a 38-percent
increase, mainly from higher volume. The export unit value was $278 per
ton, up 4 percent from 1996.  Exports of soybeans to the European Union
(EU-15) remained strong in January at 1.5 million tons.

Cotton exports were 145,000 tons in January, far below last year's 275,000
tons. Year-to-date exports were 526,000 tons, 34 percent less than fiscal
1996.  Tobacco exports were 20,000 tons in January, 18 percent higher than
1996.  Year-to-date shipments were 9 percent ahead of a year ago. 

High-value product (HVP) exports in January were $2.7 billion, up 8
percent from 1996.  The volume of beef exports was nearly the same as a
year ago at 50,000 tons. Value was 14 percent lower, a result of lower
export prices;  export unit value for beef was $3,676 per ton, down 15
percent from 1996.  Higher U.S. beef inventory and lower foreign demand
put downward pressure on beef prices. Year-to-date beef exports were $725
million, down from $931 million in 1996 as sales to Japan fell 31 percent
from a year ago.  However, beef exports to Mexico increased from $29
million to $70 million. Poultry exports reached $183 million in January, a
7-percent increase over the previous year. Cumulative poultry exports
advanced ahead of beef, reaching $908 million. 
 
October-January fresh fruit exports were nearly the same as a year ago at
$632 million; citrus and noncitrus exports were unchanged.  Fresh apple
exports in January were up 9 percent, as the U.S. apple supply increased.
Cumulative nut exports were $678 million, up 6 percent from the same
period last year because of sharply higher almond prices. 

Imports--U.S. agricultural imports for January were $3 billion, 11 percent
higher than the previous year. January coffee imports were 99,000 tons,
down 12 percent from 1996, but the cumulative level remained nearly the
same as a year ago. Wine imports for January were up 14 percent at $91
million, and beer imports were up 12 percent at $87 million. (Mark
Gehlhar, 202-501-8525).

Rising Imports in Fiscal 1997--U.S. imports in the first 4 months of
fiscal 1997 were up 14 percent over 1996. Imports were up for most
commodities except for tropical products which were down slightly from the
previous year at $2.3 billion. The EU-15 and Canada accounted for much of
the growth. Canada was the largest single-country supplier, with $2.4
billion, a 20-percent increase over 1996. Imports from the EU-15 were $3.5
billion, 8 percent higher than the previous year. Grains and products
reached $1 billion, a 20-percent increase.  Strong import growth also
pushed beverages over $1 billion. Animals and animal products, imported
largely from Canada, were up 11 percent from a year ago, reaching $2.1
billion.